....there seem to be a lot of junior skaters listed, one being Kanako Murakami, does this mean they are competing at Japanese Senior Nationals this year? Or is the Junior competition held at the same time?

Ten junior ladies are competing in this senior comp.
Kanako has potential to medal, IMO.

Ten junior ladies are competing in this senior comp.
Kanako has potential to medal, IMO.

No I agree...if Mao/Miki/Yukari has an off-night again and Fumie can't keep it together in the freeskate, Kanako could be on the podium. I wouldn't be surprised if the podium was Mao, Akiko, Kanako (in any order) although Miki or Yukari could easily take the place of Mao if she bombs.

Kanako came in 7th at nationals last year but she wasn't nearly as good, coming in 4th at the JGPF versus her victory there this year. If everyone skates well, it might be hard for her to place ahead of Miki, Mao, and Akiko, but I feel like she has a very good chance of passing Fumie and Yukari in the standings. Where Akiko gets low PCS and Mao and Miki have been having problems recently though, anything could happen.

Hey I was looking at the warm up groups and there seem to be a lot of junior skaters listed, one being Kanako Murakami, does this mean they are competing at Japanese Senior Nationals this year? Or is the Junior competition held at the same time?

I agree Kanako has the chance to be in the top five at nationals. She has the triple-triple down and if the rest of the program is clean, she is in.
The top five for me are Miki,Mao,Akiko,Yukari, and Kanako. Fumie has be so down, that I just don't know. Miki can win with a triple-triple in both programs and clean on the rest. Mao needs to do very good because if she doesn't she is out.

I agree Kanako has the chance to be in the top five at nationals. She has the triple-triple down and if the rest of the program is clean, she is in.
The top five for me are Miki,Mao,Akiko,Yukari, and Kanako. Fumie has be so down, that I just don't know. Miki can win with a triple-triple in both programs and clean on the rest. Mao needs to do very good because if she doesn't she is out.

Miki can win just by skating clean, even without a 3/3. Who knows what Mao will do and if Miki, Akikio and Yukuri are all clean Miki will come out on top.